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BLM-Wyoming: What Is Multiple Use?

Bureau: Bureau of Land Management

What is multiple use? The Bureau of Land Management's multiple-use mission was set in the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and mandates that we manage public land resources for a variety of uses, such as energy development, livestock grazing, recreation and timber harvesting, while protecting a wide array of natural, cultural and historical resources.

This month, the BLM Wyoming's Facebook page takes on the question by highlighting the wide variety of uses and jobs that BLM specialists do. Below, we share a few of our favorites.

Mutiple use is … managing sage-grouse. Wyoming is home to about 54 percent of the greater sage-grouse in the United States, and the BLM in Wyoming manages millions of acres of potential sage-grouse habitat. The BLM Wyoming works with the state of Wyoming, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Wyoming Department of Agriculture, the energy industry, environmental groups and others to address habitat conservation and provide for environmentally responsible resource use activities on public lands.

Multiple use is … wind! An estimated 43 percent of the public lands in Wyoming have wind energy development potential. The renewable energy team is strategically located to focus resources on processing wind energy right-of-way applications. The public lands in the southern half of Wyoming have the highest potential for wind energy development; and consequently, most of the project and site testing right-of-way applications currently being processed by BLM Wyoming are located in the Casper, Kemmerer, Lander, Rawlins and Rock Springs Field Offices.

Multiple use is ... recreation. Recreation opportunities abound on over 18 million acres of BLM-administered public land in Wyoming. BLM focuses on providing undeveloped recreation opportunities such as fishing, four-wheeling, sightseeing, river floating, hiking and hunting.

Multiple use is … asset management. The primary goal of BLM's asset management program is to ensure that the infrastructure is maintained in a sustainable fashion that supports the BLM's mission effectively and efficiently. BLM places an emphasis on safety and security, functionality, efficiency, sustainability, and accessibility. In Wyoming, this includes administrative and recreation sites, roads, culverts, bridges and even dams.

Multiple use is ... cadastral survey. BLM's Cadastral Survey Program is one of the oldest and most fundamental functions of the U.S. government. Established by the Land Ordinance of 1785, cadastral surveys are the foundation of our national land tenure system creating, reestablishing, marking, and defining land boundaries. In addition to conducting surveys to meet BLM land management needs, Wyoming Cadastral Survey completes surveys for all federal agencies and Indian tribes in Wyoming and Nebraska.

Multiple use is ... wildlife management! More than 3,000 species of wildlife occur on BLM's more than 245 million acres in 23 states, dispersed over some of the nation's most ecologically diverse and essential habitat. In fact, the BLM manages more wildlife habitat than any other federal or state agency. BLM-managed lands are vital to big game, upland game, waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, raptors and hundreds of species of non-game mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

Multiple use is ... coal! The top 10 producing coal mines in the country are located in the Wyoming portion of the Powder River Basin. These mines produced about 375 million short tons in 2012. Coal mines in the Powder River Basin in Wyoming employed more than 7,000 personnel in 2010.

Multiple use is ... planning! BLM is cooperating with the Black Hills National Forest, Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest, and Thunder Basin National Grassland on the Teckla-Osage-Rapid City 230 kV Transmission Line Project. Public meetings were held in Rapid City and Newcastle, Jan. 13 -14. Pictured from left: BLM Resource, Advisor George Soehn; USFS Natural Resource Law Specialist Ed Fischer; and a Black Hills power representative.

Multiple use is … wildland fire management! The BLM, a leader in our nation's wildland fire management efforts, undertakes a broad range of activities to safely protect the public, the natural landscape, wildlife habitat and recreational areas for our country's citizens. The program includes fire suppression, preparedness, predictive services, fuels management, fire planning, community assistance and protection, prevention and education, and perhaps most significant, safety.